The Right Way To Use Yogurt As A Mask

Sometimes people are genuinely surprised to learn that everyday food items can be amazing additions to our beauty routines. Maybe it’s because the idea is so simple we just fail to make the connection. Using food items for skin care costs pennies and eliminates any concerns about sketchy ingredients. Let’s take a look at how and why plain yogurt makes a great mask for any skin type.

It contains lactic acid which is a non-abrasive exfoliant that gently breaks up layers of dead skin.

The acids in yogurt are also antibacterial which makes yogurt masks an effective treatment for acne.

The fat in yogurt provides moisture allowing the yogurt to soften skin while it cleans and exfoliates.

In addition to those three benefits, plain yogurt masks can help to balance out uneven skin tone with gentle lightening. I’ve found plain yogurt to be an effective remedy for the tiny blackheads that always appear on and around my nose area. You can also mix yogurt with clays and essential oils to give your skin even better results, for pennies!

How to Use Your Plain Yogurt as Skin Care Mask

First – make sure your yogurt is room temperature. The shock of cold yogurt on warm skin is something you want to avoid, trust me.

One tablespoon is more than enough for a mask. Place it in a dish and put it aside. For a nice snack while you’re waiting, add some walnuts, a teaspoon of honey, and some cinnamon to a half cup of yogurt and enjoy. Once the chill has left it, your yogurt is ready to use.

It’s best to apply your mask to clean skin but if you can’t be bothered that’s okay too, the mask will still work. The best technique for application is the ‘pat’. Scoop a bit of the yogurt with your fingers and gently pat all over your face and neck.

The pat is crucial because the yogurt will be runny. Trying to rub it over your skin will just create a mess and the coverage will be uneven. Keep patting and adding layers until the mask is the thickness you want. Clean your hands and find something to do that doesn’t require talking or putting your face near anything.

The thicker the mask the more dry time you need.
I don’t recommend letting the mask dry completely as that can be irritating. Ten minutes should be enough time. If the mask starts to sting then rinse it off immediately.
After rinsing the mask off massage a wet washcloth over your face and neck to fully clean any loosened dead skin. Once your face is clean you can tone and moisturize as usual.

While plain low-fat yogurt works very well on it’s own, don’t forget you can mix it with other skin friendly foods.

Mix it with honey for moisture, ground oatmeal for a gentle mask, or clay for a deep clean. I realize that lots of people buy non-fat yogurt. If that’s you just remember that the skin softening benefits of a yogurt mask comes from the fat. If you use non-fat yogurt don’t expect your skin to be a soft. Do not use flavored or fruit added yogurts.